Long ago, when I lived in Washington, DC, there was a man named Mitch. I wish I could remember his last name, but like I said, it was a long time ago. Mitch was a rebel. He was a very passionate rebel. He loved to fight the good fight against the injustice of poverty that had aggressively grown throughout the city and across the country.
He was what one would call a "bleeding heart liberal" and for good reason. He was one. Politics aside, Mitch used to go on hunger strikes to bring attention to this inhumane problem. Okay, I guess that is a political move. But really, politics aside, I once saw him being interviewed on the street near our nations capitol. I wasn't really paying too much attention to him, just watching his small media circus that had formed to capture what might be his last interview before starving to death. But then he said something really amazing that has stuck with me for nearly 25 years.
He said, "We live in a city where extreme wealth and extreme poverty live side-by-side. If every family who could afford to make one extra lunch, even if it's just a sandwich, actually did it and gave it to someone hungry we could eliminate hunger over night." Or something like that.
The point is, there are more people who can afford to eat than there are those who can't. Recession be damned! We won't be able to create new jobs, but we would be able to feed those who simply can't afford to feed themselves.
At our church, the children packed brown bag lunches (one can of ravioli, cereal bar, a fruit cup, a bottle of water and a fork and napkin) for the congregation to take and pass out to those less fortunate. Not only did this provide an invaluable lesson to the children, but it allowed the church to make a point to it's people by sending them out into the world to feed the hungry.
If memory serves me well, which I question, I believe Mitch died of complications due to his numerous hunger strikes. In his wake, many more Americans have died simply because they were hungry.
Maybe today or tomorrow or sometime in the near future, when you are packing your or your children's lunch, make an extra sandwich and give it to someone who might not have a meal to eat today. The good news is, if we all do it hunger will no longer be an issue the politicians will ignore.
He was what one would call a "bleeding heart liberal" and for good reason. He was one. Politics aside, Mitch used to go on hunger strikes to bring attention to this inhumane problem. Okay, I guess that is a political move. But really, politics aside, I once saw him being interviewed on the street near our nations capitol. I wasn't really paying too much attention to him, just watching his small media circus that had formed to capture what might be his last interview before starving to death. But then he said something really amazing that has stuck with me for nearly 25 years.
He said, "We live in a city where extreme wealth and extreme poverty live side-by-side. If every family who could afford to make one extra lunch, even if it's just a sandwich, actually did it and gave it to someone hungry we could eliminate hunger over night." Or something like that.
The point is, there are more people who can afford to eat than there are those who can't. Recession be damned! We won't be able to create new jobs, but we would be able to feed those who simply can't afford to feed themselves.
At our church, the children packed brown bag lunches (one can of ravioli, cereal bar, a fruit cup, a bottle of water and a fork and napkin) for the congregation to take and pass out to those less fortunate. Not only did this provide an invaluable lesson to the children, but it allowed the church to make a point to it's people by sending them out into the world to feed the hungry.
If memory serves me well, which I question, I believe Mitch died of complications due to his numerous hunger strikes. In his wake, many more Americans have died simply because they were hungry.
Maybe today or tomorrow or sometime in the near future, when you are packing your or your children's lunch, make an extra sandwich and give it to someone who might not have a meal to eat today. The good news is, if we all do it hunger will no longer be an issue the politicians will ignore.
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